‘A Month of Ubuntu’ to highlight importance of a socially just community

Ohio University’s Office for Multicultural Student Access and Retention (OMSAR) is hosting a monthlong program about community and humanism titled, “A Month of Ubuntu.”

According to Vanessa Morgan-Nai, the coordinator for Multicultural advising and African American student success at the Office for Multicultural Student Access and Retention, “A Month of Ubuntu” was created by OMSAR as part of the “Being Black in College” academic series, “to highlight the importance of a socially just community and the importance of the Ubuntu principle that, ‘I am because you are,’ so that racial inequity may be eliminated and racial harmony may be promoted.”

“In particular, OMSAR supports African American Student Success through the promotion of this month of activities because transnational dialogue regarding South Africa and the United States can lead to a deeper understanding of the struggles of blacks across the world,” said Morgan-Nai.

“Ubuntu” is a word from the Nguni language with several definitions, popularized by the philosophies of Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. The heart of each definition is the connectedness that exists or should exist between people.

The first event of the month was held on Nov. 5 when OMSAR hosted a screening of the 2011 movie, “Winnie Mandela” followed by a panel discussion. The upcoming events are as follows:  

Friday, Nov. 16: A day trip to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati. The trip fee includes entrance to the “Mandela-The Journey to Ubuntu” special exhibit. There will also be alumni presentations and discussions with students. For more information, contact OMSAR at 740-593-9376.

Wednesday, Nov. 28: African and African American Dialogue on history, peace and connections. It will be a panel discussion and roundtable discussions featuring OHIO faculty and staff members Dr. Akil Houston, Dr. Ben LaPoe, Lisa Flowers-Clements and others. The panel will be held at 4:30 pm in Scripps Hall 111.

A yearlong focus on being black in college is the key to providing academic student support and enrichment opportunities for OMSAR’s talented scholars, Morgan-Nai said. Before the “Month of Ubuntu,” OMSAR hosted the “Being Black in College” series, which included programs on mental health, financial stability, achieving academic success and adjusting to life in Athens.

They also recently hosted a panel discussion on diversity featuring Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion Dr. Gigi Secuban, Executive Vice President and Provost Dr. Chaden Djalali, Dean of the Patton College of Education Dr. Renée Middleton and the Executive Director of the Interlink Alliance Tyrone Carr. The event was moderated by Chair of African American Studies Dr. Robin Muhammad.

“A Month of Ubuntu is the culmination of a semester’s work and it is an important capstone to celebrate the history and culture of black students on campus across national lines,” Morgan-Nai said. “We hope that these events will honor the work of Nelson Mandela and Winnie Mandela in creating a more equitable and just society as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and Angela Davis did in the U.S.”

For more information about OMSAR, visit https://www.ohio.edu/omsar